What Can You Learn from Mary?

July 17, 2022

By Brooke Holt

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:38-42

As you read this familiar Scripture passage, who do you relate to—Mary or Martha? Jesus deeply loved them and considered them good friends. He called both women to be his disciples, a thing most unusual in that day and time. Jesus changed everything through his life and ministry, especially the role of women in society and the church.

Mary took this call of discipleship to heart. She longed to learn from Jesus. This desire allowed Mary to break free from all the societal expectations (and even her sister’s expectations) to be busy in the home. Instead, Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, soaking in every word he spoke.

Mary models what it means to let go of the world’s distractions to focus on what truly matters—a relationship with Jesus Christ. Just imagine her joy of sitting at the feet of the Messiah. She not only could learn from his words but also how Jesus related to people. He was a man of truth, power, wisdom, grace, and perfect love. Who would not want to sit at his feet?

You are invited to live as a chosen and beloved disciple of Jesus Christ every day. And every day, Jesus invites you to sit at his feet, learn from him and soak in his love, wisdom, and grace. Are you choosing to sit and focus on your Savior, or are you allowing the busyness of life to distract you from the most important thing—a relationship with Jesus?

In Mary, we see a courageous woman who kept choosing to pursue Jesus. May we follow her lead and sit at the feet of our Lord and King today.

Reflection:

What are the distractions or expectations in your life that keep you from sitting at the feet of Jesus? How can you lay those things aside to listen to him, learn from him, and experience his love for you today? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended Resource:

Let's face it, the Christian life is hard. Relationships take work. Christians forget. Sometimes it is tempting to go back to the days when God was not the center of our lives - to backslide. We are all faced with tremendous pressures to drift away from intimacy with Jesus and the community of the Church. However, the Lord invites us to pay attention, to move forward, to draw near, and to live lives of worship. Draw Near: Hebrews on Christian Worship is a small group Bible study on the Book of Hebrews intended to lead participants into a deeper intimacy with the living God in the context of New Testament worship. Draw nearer to God in authentic worship today!